Twelve Chairs

The Chofetz Chaim’s home had no chairs at all, only a few long benches of rough-cut wood and one simple table that could be extended at each end. Then his son-in-law, Rav Mendel Zaks, became rosh yeshivah of Radin, and a difficulty arose. Rav Mendel lived upstairs, and bochurim came to discuss learning with him, but not all of them felt comfortable squeezed onto benches beside their friends. They wanted a little privacy with the rosh yeshivah. So twelve chairs were ordered, and they were set out in the kitchen, downstairs in the Chofetz Chaim’s own quarters, and upstairs.

When the Chofetz Chaim came back and noticed the new furniture, he was shocked. His family told him the reason, but he still could not take it in. One chair he could understand, for the head of the household, and a second for the lady of the house, and a third if a guest happened to come. But twelve? He reminded them of the teaching that Hashem’s Name is not complete and His throne is not complete. If the Ribono Shel Olam does not yet have one whole chair, how could there be twelve in this house?

Rav Farber added that everything the Chofetz Chaim said came from complete sincerity, with no exaggeration at all.